Stoker



June l, 1943 F. P. RoEscH 2,320,471

sToKER Filed sept. 12, 1941 5 sheets-sheet 1 June 1, 1943. F. P. RoEscH 2,320,471

sToxER i 'Filed Sept. l2, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 1, 194s..l 'E' P, RQESCH 2,320,471

STOKER r Fiied Sept. 12, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 iframe-r Patented June 1, 1943 STOKER -Frank P. Roesch, Chicago, Ill., assigner to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Application September 12, 1941, Serial No. 410,609

13 Claims.

This invention relates to stokers and more particularly to the novel construction of the tender unit thereof and associated parts of the tender fuel bin.

The main object of the invention is to provide simple and eilcient means of the type referred to above adapted to convey fuels of different -grades or characteristics from a fuel bin and deliver a mixture thereof in desired proportions for combustion in a iirebox. Practically all coal burning locomotives 'are adapted to burn bituminous coal. There are in certain regions vast stores of inexpensive anthracite culm that could be utilized under suitable conditions'by railroads operating through these regions. Anthracite culm alone cannot besuccessfully burnedin present day locomotives, though it'has been successfully used when hand fired in certain proportions lalong with bituminous coal. `While the proportions may vary over a considerable range, a mixture consisting of up to as "high as 50 percent anthracite culm can be very successfully burned.

While such mixtures could be successfully burned when hand fired, considerable difculty was experienced in mechanical firing, ffor even when anthracite culm or buck and bituminous coal was thoroughly mixed in the tender fuel bin, segregationoccurred; the anthracite moving toward the bottom of the pile. This segregation -s accentuated'in the tenderdue'to oscillation Aand vibration when running.

As a more specific object, the invention contemplates means whereby fuelsof different characteristics are separately conveyed .from separate compartments of a fuel bin, mixed in transit to a flrebox lin desired proportions, and 'mixture f delivered to a I'ireboX.

-A still further object of the 'invention is' to provide a stoker of the type described above wherein fuels of different grades or characterisi tics are f separately conveyed from separate sources, mixed in transit and delivered to a rebox in desired predetermined proportions, and

'which stoker is adapted without alteration or adjustment `to separately convey from separate sources, mix in transit and deliver a mixture of similar kinds of fuel to a fireboX.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully describedan'd claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

For purpose of illustration the invention is described as applied toa'locomotive and tender and with reference to mechanical feeding of bituminous coal and anthracite culm, however, it will be apparent that the invention is equally adaptable for feeding fuel from a fuel bin to fireboxes of other types and adaptable forfeeding vmixtures of other kinds of fuels.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation ofthe adjacent end portions of a locomotive and tender with the novel stoker applied thereto, the side wall of the tender being removed to show the interior of the fuel bin and that portion of the stoker mounted in the tender;

Fig. 2 is a plan View cf the forward end of the tender with the stoker applied thereto, parts being `broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the gear housing at the rear of the stoker with the cover removed to show the gearing, parts being broken away; and

Fig. 6 is a View in section taken on 'the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, with the gear housingcover applied thereto.

Referring to Fig. 1, the letter L designates a locomotive, T a tender and S a stoker for delivering fuel from the tenderto the locomotive. The

4locomotive andthe forward end of the stoker is known in the art, may be used vwith my novel tender fuel bin and stoker tender unit;

The tender T comprises a water compartment I!! and a fuel bin II separated by a transversely extending upright partition I2 forming the rear wall of the tender fuel bin II. The sides of the fuel bin II are defined by the upper portions of the tender side sheets I3 and I4 and the side slope sheets I5 and I6, respectively, asbest shown in Fig. 4.

The fuel brin II is divided into two compartments II and I8,'by `an upright longitudinally extending 'partition plate I 9.

An angle iron 20 is secured in any suitable manner to the lower edge of the partition plate I9`in an inverted V position and a T shaped beam 2l, extending longitudinally the length of the tender fuel bin I I .midway between the sides thereof, is secured in any suitable manner to the fuel bin oor v'22. in an inverted position. The free end of the upshown in dot and dash, dividing the bin II into tWo unequal compartments. This means comprises, at the rear of the bin Il, a pair of overlapping arms 23 and 24 secured together by a pair of spaced pins 25 and 2B extending through the overlapped portion of the arms 23 and 24. The end of the arm 23 opposite its overlapped portion isattached by a pin 21 to an angle 23 which is secured to the partition plate I9; and the end of the arm 24 opposite its overlappedportion is attached by a pin 29 to an angle 39 which is secured tothe tender side sheet I4. The pins 26 and 29 are removable so that the arm 23 can be attached to the lower piortion of the angle `i, as shown in dot and dash in Fig. 4, whereby the partition plate I9 will assume an angular position increasing the area of compartment l1 and decreasing the area of compartment I8. The relative areas of the compartments I1 and i8 canA also be varied b-y attaching the arm 23 to the upper porti'onof the angle 30 and by providing additional openings in the angle 38 adapted to receive either the pin 25 or pin 29. A similar arrangement is provided at the forward end of the fuel bin, the overlapping arms being shown in Fig. 2 at 23' and 24', and the respective angles to which they are attached at 28 and 30. A stop 3| is secured to .the rear wall I2 of the fuel bin to prevent the -partition plate I9 `moving beyondits vertical position toward the tender side sheet I3.

The fuel'bin floor 22 is provided at each side of the'partition plate i9 with a longitudinally elongated opening; the opening 32 forming a fuel outlet for the compartment I1 and the opening 33l forming a fuel outlet for the compartment I8. Beneath the opening 32 is a trough 34 arranged to receive fuel from the compartment l1 and beneath the opening 33 is a trough 35 arranged to receive fuel from the compartment I8. The openings 32 and 33 may'be closed when desired by a plurality of slidably mounted plates 3S and 31, respectively, which are so arranged that they maybe drawn forward one at a time as the coal is consumed to present a relatively small opening in the desiredposition in the floor of the bin.

A return bendconduit 38 communicates at its oppositeopen ends with the forward ends, respectively, ofthe troughs 34 and 35, and is provided with a back outlet opening 39. The return bend conduit 38 communicates through its back outlet opening 39 with the spherical extension or bowl 4 0 which is Yreceived in a spherical portion'4l, as shown'in Fig. 1, of ,the rear tubular section 4i'. of the intermediate conduit 43. The front section 44 of this conduit telescopes with the rear section 42 and at its forward end is connected by a universal joint 45 with the lower end of a riserconduit or discharge box 46. The

upper forward end of the riser conduit 46 communicates with the locomotive firebox.

Screw conveyors 41 and 48r are mounted in the troughs 34 and 35 for advancing fuel therethrough intojthe return bend conduit 38. rIhe forward ends of the screw conveyors 41 and 48 preferably extend a short distance into the return bend conduit 38 for facilitating movement of the fuel therethrough toward the back outlet opening 39. A screw conveyor 49, keyed to a shaft 59 journaled in the wall of the return bend conduit 38 opposite the outlet opening 39, extends forwardly through ,the opening 39 into the bowl 49 and advances the fuel delivered by the screw conveyors 41 and 48. Screw conveying means,

not shown, connected in a manner well known in the art to the forward end of the screw conveyor 49 advances fuel through the intermediate conduit 43 and riser 45 to the locomotive firebox. The screw conveyors 41, 48 and 49 are arranged with their axes in the same horizontal plane. Crushers 5I and 52 arched over the conveyor screws 41 and 48, respectively, at the forward end of the troughs 34 and 35, respectively, cooperate with the conveyor screws 41 and 48, respectively, to crush the larger lumps of coal to a size suitable for firing.

vThe screw conveyors 41, 48 and 49 are adapted to be operated through reduction gearing 1ocated in the gear housing 53 at the rear of the troughs 34 and 35 from a suitable source of power, such as the two cylinder reciprocating steam engine 54. The engine 54 is shown mounted on the tender but it is obvious that it may be mounted on the locomotive if desired with suitably designed shafting, well known in the art. A telescopic drive shaft 55 is preferably flexibly connected at one end to the engine and at its other end flexibly connected with the pinion shaft 5B of the gearing so that it may have the necessary expanding, contracting and flexing motions under running conditions of the tender.

The gearing enclosed in the gear housing 53 and cover.51 comprises the pinion shaft 56 driven by the drive shaft 55; the shaft 58 for driving the screw conveyor 41; the shaft 59 coupled to the shaft 68, extending between the troughs 34 and 35, which in turn is coupled to the shaft 58 for driving the screw conveyor 49; the shaft 6I for driv- 4ing the screw conveyor 48; intermeshing pinion gear 62 and gear 53 onshafts 56 and 58, respectively; intermeshing gears 64 and 65 on shafts 58 and 59, respectively; and intermeshing gears 66 and 61 on shafts 59 and 6i, respectively.

For reasons hereinafter set forth, the gearing is rarranged so that the screw conveyor 49 operates one and one half times as fast as the screw conveyor 41 and the screw'conveyor 48 operates about one fourth as fast as the screw conveyor 41. The present invention contemplates the feeding of mixtures of'bituminous coal and anthracite culm, the bituminous coal-being contained in the compartment AI1 and conveyed by the screw conveyor 41 and the anthracite culm being contained in the compartment I8 and conveyed by the screw conveyor 48. The bituminous coal most generally used by the railroads is runof-mine coal, and since this comprises a considerable percentage of large lumps, less of this coal will be delivered per revolution of the screw conveyor than of the anthracite culm. Thus, while the anthracite conveying screw 48 operates about one fourth as fast as the bituminous conveying screw 41, actually the ratio of bituminous coal to anthracite culm delivered will be about three to one. A mixture in thesev proportions can be burned very successfully, but it will be understood that they may be burned in other proportions if desired, and can be conveyed in the desired proportions by changing the gear ratios.

It is also apparent that the capacity of the stoker can be increased by altering the gear ratios to operate the screw conveyor 48, at a rate approaching or equal to the rate of the screw conveyor 41 and appropriately increasing the feeding capacity of screw conveyor 49 by changing the gear ratio or increasing the diameter of the screw or both. This is particularly advantageous when it is desired to feed all bituminous coal and greater capacity is desired.

In Fig. 4 the partition plate I9 is shown dividing the fuel bin l2 into equal compartments but as explained above, the plate I9 can be adjusted to any one of a number of positions to vary the relative sizes of the compartments I1 and I8. Thus, if the gear ratios and the characteristics of the fuel being conveyed are such that the screw conveyor .4l will convey about three times as much fuel as the screw conveyor 48, then the partition plate I9 can be adjusted to a position making the capacity of the compartment l1 about three times that of compartment i6, so that the one compartment will not empty before the other. While the invention is particularly adaptable for conveying fuels of different characteristics it is apparent that fuel of the same kind can be placed in the compartments I'l and I8 and conveyed, without making any alterations or adjustments in the construction.

The fuel conveyed by the screw conveyors 4l and 43 is urged through the return bend conduit 38 to the screw conveyor 49, where it is lmixed and tconveyed forwardly into the bowl 45. Suitable conveying means delivers the mixed fuel through the intermediate conduit 43 and riser 4 8 to the iirebox.

I claim:

l. The combination in a locomotive tender, of a fuel bin for said tender, a floor for said fuel bin, means extending longitudinally within Vsaid fuel bin dividing the latter into two compartments, said iloor being provided with a longitudinally elongated opening at each side of said dividing means through which fuel drops by gravity from said compartments, a conduit system including a longitudinally extending trough portion beneath each `of said compartments arranged to receive fuel therefrom through said openings and a tubular portion forward of and connecting the forward ends of said trough portions, said tubular and trough'portions lying in substantially the same horizontal plane, and con.-

veying means in each of said trough portions for advancing fuel therethrough. into said tubular portion, said tubular portion having an opening `providing a common outlet for fuel ,delivered from both said trough portions.

2. The .combination inja locomotive tender, of a fuel bin having a floor, said floor being provided with a pair of longitudinally elongated laterally spaced openings through which fuel drops by gravity from said fuel bin, a longitudinally extending trough conduit beneath each of said openings for receiving fuel from said fuel bin, a return bend conduit forward of and connecting the forward ends of said trough conduits, said return bend conduit being provided with a back outlet opening, conveying means in each of said trough conduits for advancing fuel therethrough into said return bend conduit and i conveying means in said return bend conduit for conveying fuel therefrom through said back outlet opening.

3. The combination in a locomotive tender, of a fuel bin having a floor, said oor being pro- `conduits for advancing .provided with a back outlet .conveyor in each of said trough conduits for advancing fuel therethrough into said return -vided with a pair of longitudinally elongated laterally spaced openings through which fuel drops by gravity from said fuel bin, a longitudinally extending trough conduit `beneath each of said openingsffor receiving fuel from said fuel bin, a return bend conduit connecting the forward ends of said vtrough conduits, said return bend conduit being provided with a back outlet opening, a screw conveyor in each of said trough fuel therethrough into said return Abend conduit, and a screw conveyor in said return bend conduit for conveying fuel therefrom through said back outlet opening, said conduits'beingarranged with the screw convey.- ors therein all lying in the same horizontal plane.

4. The combination in a locomotive tender, of a fuel-loin for said tender, a oor for said fuel bin, means extending longitudinally within said fuel bin dividing the latter into `two compartments, said floor being provided with a longitudinally elongated opening at each side of said dividing means through which fuel drops by gravity from said compartments,.a longitudinally extending trough conduit beneath each of said compartments arranged to receive fuel therefrom through jsaid openings, a return bend conduit forward of and connecting the forward ends of said trough conduits, vsaid return bend conduit being provided with a back outlet opening, conveying means in each of said trough conduits for advancing fuel therethrough into said return bend conduit and conveying means in said return bend conduit for conveying fuel therefrom through said back outlet opening.

5. The combination in a locomotive tender, of a fuel bin for said tender, a floor for said fuel bin, means extending longitudinally within said fuel bin dividing the latter into two compartments, said floor being provided with a longitudinally elongated opening at each side of said dividing means through which fuel drops by .gravity from said compartments, a longitudinally extending trough conduit beneath each of said compartments arranged to receive fuel `therefrom through said openings, a return bend,

conduit connecting the forward ends of said trough conduits, said return bend conduit being opening, a screw bend conduit, and a screw conveyor in said return bend conduit for conveying fuel therefrom through said back outlet opening, said conduits -being arranged with the screw conveyors therein -all lying in the same horizontal plane.

6. The combination in aV locomotive tender,

of a fuel bin for said tendenwa floor for said fuel bin, means extending longitudinally within ,said fuel bin dividing the latter into two compartrnents, said floor being provided with a longitudinally elongated opening at each side of said .dividing means through which fuel drops by gravity Vfrom said compartments, a longitudinally extending trough conduit beneath each oi said compartments arranged to receive fuel therefrom through said openings, a return bend conduit connecting the forward ends of said trough conduits, said return bend conduit being provided with a back outlet opening, a screw conveyor in each of said trough conduits extending into said return bend conduit fo-r advancing fuel, and a screw conveyor journaled in the wall of said return bend conduit opposite said back outlet opening, said last named screw conveyor exments, said floor being 4 tending forwardly through said back outlet opening.

'7. The combination in a locomotive and tender, of a fuel bin for said tender, a floor forr said fuel bin, means extending longitudinally within said fuelbin dividing the latter into two compartments, said oor being provided with a longitudinally elongated opening at each side of said dividing means through which fuel drops by gravity from said compartments, a longitudinally extending trough conduit beneath each of said compartments arranged to receive fuel therefrom through said openings, a return bend conduit connecting the forward ends of said trough conduits, said return bend conduit being provided with a back outlet opening, a transfer conduit extending forwardly from said back outlet opening to the locomotive, a screw conveyor in each of said trough conduits extending into said return bend conduit for advancing fuel, a

screw conveyor ,iournaled in the wall of said return bend conduit opposite said back outlet opening, said last named screw conveyor extending forwardly through said back outlet opening, and a screw conveyor in said transfer conduit operatively connected at its rearward end with the forward end of said last named screw conveyor.

8. The combination in a locomotive and tender,

of a fuel bin for said tender, a floor for said fuel longitudinally within said latter linto two compartprovided with a longitudinally elongated opening at each side of said dividing means through which fuel drops by gravity from said compartments, a longitudinally extending trough conduit beneath each of said compartments arranged to receive fuel therefrom through said openings, a return bend conduit connecting the forward ends of said trough conduits, said return bend conduit being provided with a back outlet opening, a transfer conduit extending forwardly from said back outlet opening to the locomotive, a screw conveyor in each of said trough conduits extending into said rebin, means extending fuel bin dividing the turn bend conduit for advancing fuel, a screw conveyor journaled in the wall of said return bend conduit opposite said back outlet opening, said last named screw conveyor extending forwardly through said back outlet opening, Athe axes of said screw conveyors all lying in the same horizontal plane.

9. The combination in a locomotive tender, of

a fuel bin having a. floor, said floor being provided with a pair of longitudinally elongated laterally spaced openings through which fuel drops by .gravity from said fuel bin, a longitudinally extending trough,conduit beneath each of said openings for receiving fuel from said fuel bin, a return bend conduit connecting the forward ends of said trough conduits, said return bend conduit being provided with a back outlet opening, a screw conveyor in each of said trough conduits for advancing fuel therethrough into said return bend conduit, a screw conveyor in said return bend conduit for conveying fuel therefrom through said back outlet opening, means for driving said screw conveyors including gearing at the rear of said trough conduits, a pair of shafts operatively connecting .said gearing with each of the trough conduit screw conveyors, and a shaft extending longitudinally between said trough conduits operatively connecting said gearing and the screw conveyor in said return bend conduit. Y

10. The combination in a locomotive tender,

lof a fuel bin for said tender, a floor for said fuel bin, means extending longitudinally within said fuel bin dividing the latter into two compartments, said floor being provided with a longitudinally elongated opening at each side of said dividing means through which fuel drops by gravity from said compartments, a longitudinally extending trough conduit beneath each of said compartments arranged to receive fuel therefrom through said openings, a return bend conduit connecting the forward ends of said trough conduits, said return bend conduit being provided with a back outlet opening, a screw conveyor in each of said trough conduits for advancing fuel therethrough into said return bend conduit, a screw conveyor in said return bend conduit for conveying fuel therefrom through said back outlet opening, means for driving said screw conveyors including gearing at the rear of said trough conduits, a pair of shafts operatively connecting said gearing with each of the trough conduit screw conveyors, and a shaft extending longitudinally between said trough conduits operatively connecting said gearing and the screw conveyor in said return bend conduit.

l1. The combination in a locomotive tender, of a fuel bin having a floor, a longitudinally extending inverted T shaped beam secured to said floor, a longitudinally extending upright partition dividing said fuel bin into two compartments, said partition having an inverted V shaped angle extending along its lower edge, the upper edge of the upright portion of said inverted T shaped beam being received in the apex of said inverted V shaped angle providing for swinging movement of said partition about its lower edge as an axis to vary the relative capacities of said compartments, and means for retaining said partition in any one of a number of positions.

12. The combination in a locomotive tender, of a fuel bin, a pair of longitudinally extending trough conduits disposed side by side at the bottom of said bin for receiving fuel therefom, a return bend conduit connecting the forwardends of said trough conduits-said return bend conduit being provided with a back outlet opening, a screw conveyor in each of said trough conduits for advancing fuel therethrough into said return bend conduit, and a screw conveyor in said return bend conduit for conveying fuel therefrom through said back outlet opening, said conduits being arranged with the screw conveyors therein al1 lying in the same horizontal plane.

13. The combination in a locomotive tender, of a fuel bin, a pair of longit/:jfJ-.kxaliy extending trough conduits disposed Iside by side at the bottom of said bin for recr\iving fuel therefrom, a tubular conduit connectingthe forward ends of said trough conduits, a screw conveyor in each of said trough conduits for advancing fuel therethrough into Asaid tubular conduit, said tubular conduit having an opening providing a common outlet for fuel delivered from both said trough conduits, a third screw conveyor for conveying fuel forwardly from said common outlet, means for driving said screw conveyors including gearing at the rear of said trough conduits, a pair of shafts operatively connecting said gearing with each of the trough conduit screw conveyors, and a shaft extending longitudinally between said trough conduits operatively connecting said gearing and said third screw conveyor.

FRANK P. ROESCH. 

